Farm Produce: Forest Produce

The farm produce timber not to be classified as forest produce is under consideration by GOI.

In reply to objection by Sri Sajjan Bhajanka, President, Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry, Mr Jitesh Technical Officer (Forest Policy) MOEFCC stated this above point, vide his below mentioned letter :-

Please refer to your Public Grievance registered as No. PMOPG/E2020/0728127 dated 10.08.2020 received in MOEFCC from Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare vide letter dated 09.09.2020 for necessary action.

In this regard, you are informed that the Indian Forest Act, 1927 defines timber as forest produce irrespective of its source whether found in or brought from a forest or not. However, Section 31 (3) of IFA, 1927 provided that “the State Government may direct that any rule made under this section shall not apply to any specified class of timber or other forest-produce or to any specified local area.” MOEFCC has already issued guidelines dated 18.11.2014 and 01.01.2020 to all States/UTs to take appropriate action in the matter as state government is empowered to take necessary action under section 41(3) of IFA, 1927. As of now, 28 states/ UTs have already removed/relaxed regulatory regimes for a number of commonly grown agroforestry species on non forest/private lands. Bamboo has already been removed from definition of tree by amending Indian Forest Act, 1927 in 2017.

Further the suggestions regarding farm-produced timber to be classified as farming produce and as a forest produce has been noted for consideration.